The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-02-27

surrounding circumstances, indicates
clearly the opposition that still smould-
ers in this country against the Catholic.
The hue and cry against Mormonism
is essentially the same. Polygamy, we
are told, is not the chief offense of this
people; it is Church and State, the
interference OF eeclesiastics in civil
affairs, But the other day the local
Christian AHvocate adopted this view, and
in an editorial endeavored to find out
which was the more deplorable,
obedience to Pope Leo or to Pope
john" which the more un-American,
Catholicism or Mormonism. The same
view as to the more serious of Mormon
otfenses, has been asserted by the local
politicians and journals, and is
accepted by the government,
which not content with furnishing
polygamists, now desires to disfran-
chise those who believe in the divinity
of MOrmonism-who with perfect ra-
tionality, refuse to subordinate God to
the Revised Statutes.
The positions then, of the Latter-day
Saint and the Catholic. are the same
In yielding a superior allegiance to
God, where God and man conflict. Nor,
indeed, is the position of any Christian
in anywise different; that they 'are not
similarly prosecuted is not because of
their more vigorous patriotism, but be-
cause of their less vigorous creeds. 1t
is the man of accommodating DISPOSE
ton, who agrees with all and disputes
none, that slides through this world
without friction; while positive char
acter makes violent enemies.
While it is true that Catholic and
Mormon are similarly situated, the
former must not conclude that his po-
sition is the more unassailable. There
are points of difference, which, in view
of Mormon prosecutions, should be
matters of deep and serious contempla
ton to the Catholics. While the alleged
superior allegiance of the Mormon is to
q church which does not aspire to
temporal government. and which
teaches subjection'to all governments
the Catholic Church yields obedience
to Pontlff who has been, and aspires
yet to be, temporal monarch. More
over, the Mormon Church is an out
growth of American soil; it was organ
lied in this country, by native-born
citizen; its sacred spots are all here; it
teaches that the Almighty inspired the
Constitution; the Book of Mormon says
that this land would forever be land !
Of free institutions. On the other hand,
the Pope is a foreigner. Therefore,
while the Mormon religion asks
obedience to a spiritual head, is native
and believes in an inspired |
the Catholic. religion asks
obedience to head who is the head Of
/ foreign temporal government. The
distinction is obvious-if Mormons are
10 be disfranchised at the pleasure of |
people, who believe them, however
olindly, to be reasonable, in how much |
greater danger of similar disabilities, |
are the Catholics, if, perchance, popular
prejudice may select them as its vic
tims2
The word treason which the assail- |
ants of Catholicism and Mormonism
use SO recklessly in connection with
hose sects, has well defined meaning
n these United States. Treason is
only when war is levied
against the government, or when its
enemies are aided in their warfare.
When, then, we consider the infamy of
he association, and its baselessness, we
may comprehend how black is the
Ofense of those irresponsible robbers of
reputation who put it forth. In COM
0arison with such a crime and criminal
he highwayman "who steals my
purse, steals trash" and should be re-
Harded for his act.
Any individual who asserts that there |
g not room in this country for Nor
mons or Catholics, has little idea of the |
nature of freedom, and less of the basic
principles of our government. 1t was
10 secure to all people absolute liberty
If thought and action, interfering only
When belief breaks out into deeds that
ire opposed to the welfare of society,
hat the republic was established. The
Constitution is broad enough to protect
nurderers, or what is very much the
anne thing, Anarchists, so long as their
reeds are matters of belief alone. The
eason for this rule is evident-it is
ased upon the experience that the
1ost uncertain thing. in the world is
hat a man will do what he believes
ught to be done.
Catholics were once capitslly punished
nd for subsequent long period suf-
cred political disfranchisement, for the
cry opinions which are now by the
majority of people held harmless. The
ews were denied civil rights in Eng
and for centuries, because, it was said.